The Saskatchewan Roughriders are returning to an old haunt.
When they face the Calgary Stampeders at Mosaic Stadium on Saturday (7 p.m., CKRM, TSN), the Roughriders will be taking on an opponent from the West Division for the first time in the 2018 regular season.
Saskatchewan’s first five games were against the Toronto Argonauts, Ottawa Redblacks, Montreal Alouettes and Hamilton Tiger-Cats (twice).
The contest Saturday also is the first of six straight against West teams for the Roughriders. They’re to meet the Edmonton Eskimos on Aug. 2, the Stampeders on Aug. 19, the B.C. Lions on Aug. 25 and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Sept. 2 and Sept. 8.
Here’s one man’s list of five things to watch during Saturday’s game.
- The defence (never) rests: The Stampeders have ridden a stubborn defence to a perfect record so far this season. That group went into the week with the league lead in nearly every key statistical category, including points (9.2 per game), touchdowns (four), net offence (243.2 yards per game), rushing yards (70.4 per game), passing yards (194.0 per game) and completions of 30 yards or more (three). Saskatchewan’s D is in the mix in many categories as well, including TDs (second in the league with seven allowed), net offence (third at 321.8 yards per game), rushing yards (second at 75.0 yards per game) and two-and-outs forced (first at 36). A potential problem for Saskatchewan is that Calgary’s offence also is potent.
- Charleston Hughes: The defensive end spent the first 10 seasons of his CFL career with the Stamps, recording 99 sacks and winning three sack titles. In February, Calgary traded Hughes to the Tiger-Cats, who in turn dealt him to Saskatchewan — which brings us to this clash. It’s the first time in 2018 that Hughes will face the Stampeders (he didn’t play in the teams’ pre-season meeting June 8) and while he has said all the right things in the days leading up to the game, Hughes has to be fired up to play against them. If Calgary QB Bo Levi Mitchell is still hampered by a knee injury suffered two games ago, a motivated Hughes could have a big day.
- Sam I am: Saskatchewan has put Derrick Moncrief — its starting strong-side (Sam) linebacker — on the six-game injured list with a shoulder problem, so Matt Elam is to make his first CFL start at that position. A former first-round pick of the NFL’s Baltimore Ravens, Elam played 41 games over three seasons with the Ravens before being released. He was a safety in college and in the NFL, so he’ll have to adjust to being in the box and to covering inside receivers in his maiden voyage with the Roughriders. Then again, Moncrief was a safety during his college career and he has made the transition to linebacker look seamless.
- Brendon LaBatte: The veteran guard left the Roughriders’ game in Hamilton on July 19 with a left knee injury, but returned only a few series later. LaBatte’s teammates were shocked to see him come back from what appeared to be a serious injury and they rallied around their leader. LaBatte didn’t appear to be suffering any ill effects from the incident during practice this week, but a game is a different animal altogether. As well, LaBatte and his mates on the Roughriders’ offensive line face a stiff test from a Calgary defence that went into the week with a league-high 16 sacks.
- Christion Jones: After playing just 15 regular-season games in green and white, Jones has established himself as one of the top returners in franchise history. He has returned three punts for touchdowns (four, if you include the playoffs) during his Roughriders career and already is tied for second on the team’s all-time list. He also has provided a spark at opportune times, whether it was a regular-season game in Ottawa in 2017 or in the Eastern Final in Toronto last season. Saskatchewan entered the week tied for the CFL lead this season with a 13.8-yard average on punt returns, but the Stamps were second in the league with an opponent’s punt-return average of 8.5 yards.
